54 



Another authority states : — 



Although of an inferior class, it is used for a great variety of building purposes, notwithstanding 



some liability to warp or twist Supplies a good deal of second-class sawn timber in the 



market. (Mueller, in Cat. Tech. Mus., Melbourne.) 



As this work seeks to impartially report on the qualities of the products of 

 the various species, in whatever State they are produced, some lengthy statements 

 in regard to Tasmanian-grown timher are given at this place. 



Following is a report by Mr. Allan Ransome, of London, on a Tasmanian 

 sample — (See Kew Bulletin, May, 1889) :— 



A very strong tough wood, with a straight grain, in appearance somewhat resembling American 

 ash. From its great strength and toughness it is well adapted for carriage, cart, and waggon building, 

 wheel-work, and agricultural machinery, as well as for the framing of railway carriages and trucks. It is 

 also a valuable wood for the stronger description of building constructions, and would make excellent 

 railway sleepers. From the peculiar strength of the fibre of the grain, it will not maintain a good surface, 

 as, even when perfectly drj', the grain rises, so as to render it impossible to polish it successfully. 



An official report says : — 



Stringybark can be obtained in patches all over Tasmania, but is most abundant in the south ; like 

 the blue gum it can be got of any reasonable length or size. It is of quicker growth than the gum, and is 

 of a lighter and milder nature generally. The timber is much used in Tasmania and in the adjacent 

 colonies for house-building, &c. To ensure durability the wood requii-es fair seasoning. The diS'erent 

 varieties are — Gum-top Stringybark, Brown and White Stringybark (the brown being the older growth). 

 The White Stringybark makes good palings and shingles. 



Another official report says : — 



Eucalyptus ohliqua (Stringybark) is our most valuable wood. It differs from and is better than 

 the Stringybark of Australia. The timber is light-coloured, and varies considerably, from a brown wood 

 resembling oak to a much lighter-coloured wood resembling ash ; and because of the great ^'ariety of its 

 uses and its abundance is more valuable economically than blue gum. The bark might be made a source 

 of income, as it is suitable for the manufacture of paper. 



The timber, as I have already hinted, ajipears to be more valued in Tasmania 

 than on the mainland ; its utilisation, as a paper-making material, is not likely to 

 have any commercial importance. 



The following account of E. ohliqua timber is taken from Mr. A. O. Green's 

 pamphlet on "Tasmanian Timbers" (1902). It and tlie Blue Gum {E. globulus) 

 are the two most valuable timbers of Tasmania, hence the comparison by Mr. Green 

 and by the author already quoted : — 



Stringybark trees are very much more widely distributed through the Island than the Blue Gum 

 [E. glubulus), growing over large tracts of poor, hilly country. They attain to an immense size — up to 

 300 feet in height, and from 2 to 10 feet in diameter. The wood is, on the whole, of a lighter colour than 

 Blue Gum, and varies from a pale straw to a reddish brown. In appearance Brown Stringybark is 

 somewhat like oak, and it would be a difficult matter for most people to distinguish a picture-frame made 

 of Stringybark from one made of oak. The timber varies considerably, according to the situation and 

 soil in which the tree grows. In appearance it is freer than blue gum, but lacks the purplish tint, and 

 is more subject to gum-veins. It is the most general timber for all sorts of constructive work in Tasmania. 

 It makes excellent piles, especially for fresh water, but is not considered quite so good as blue gum for 

 salt water, being more subject to the attacks of the teredo. 



